At the expiration of Governor Ikedi Ohakim’s regime in 2011, which I served as the Chief Press Secretary to the Governor, CPS, I, Kelechi Mejuobi and Gerry Ogu, in order to beat poverty, established Trumpeta Newspaper.
We also in the process reduced unemployment level in Imo State by directly employing over Eighteen Graduates, and indirecting feeding other families through buying of printing papers, films, plates, folding, cutting, distribution, computer parts and repairs etc.
Apart from three of us, no other living or dead person has a hand in the Newspaper. Therefore, we solely sponsor and print the Newspaper.
However, it has been a difficult and excruciating seven years of survival, because of the economic hardship in Imo State and the editorial style of the Newspaper, which is focused on professionalism by saying the truth as it is according to the ethics of the job.
Because TRUMPETA Newspaper does not pander to sycophancy and praise singing, the Newspaper has been facing financial tough times, but yet the reading public have been too patronizing, making the Newspaper to be on the Newsstands each edition, to the chargin of the Imo State Government, who sees the Newspaper as a pain in the ass, for obviously publishing government follies, which is the major responsibility of the Media in a Democratic Environment like ours.
TRUMPETA was never set up to attack any government, Group or individuals. Such action would be stupid and idiotic, because the aim of every Business establishment is to make profits and remain afloat. So, for anybody to believe that TRUMPETA was set up to be an attack Dog of any Body is insulting to the Gentlemen who pulled their resources together, to not only employ themselves, but to also provide food for over eighteen families in Imo State.
Therefore, as a Newspaper, we have not deviated from our responsibility of informing, educating and entertaining our Readers. And unfortunately, and fortunately too, operating in a State like Imo State presently headed by Owelle Rochas Okorocha, there are quantum of information every day to be disseminated to the reading public.
Since I became an adult, I have never seen the kind of scenario that unfolds every day as Governance, like that of Imo State, where unbelievable acts that ought to be seen as Sacred emanate everyday from Government House Owerri.
Apart from the Governor, Owelle Rochas Okorocha and a sprinkle of his Aides who see nothing and hear nothing, the over Ninety percent Imolites, and over Eighty percent of Nigerians and outside world who comment about the bizarre nature of Okorocha’s kind of administration, are fools.
The Governor is either detached from his immediate environment to notice the reactions of those he is leading, or he notices but does not care. It is either the Governor has reached his apogee in Governance and therefore has nothing more to offer as leadership, or that he decided to pay Imo poor masses in a different coin after they staked their lives to vote him into office in 2011.
Because the Okorocha administration does not take stock as a Government through feedback mechanism from the populace, it does not know that it has frittered away its good will with the electorate.
Because the administration is busy chasing shadow than focus on its major assignments, it has not noticed the tension and peace of the grave yard hovering in the Imo atmosphere. Because the administration takes mundane and plastic hailings from its paid admirers, it has cut off its contacts from the masses, who once were Okorocha’s base, even when the elites abandoned him.
Therefore, as the Fourth Estate of the Realm, Trumpeta owes it as a professional duty to the reading public, including to the Governor, Owelle Rochas Okorocha to always inform the people aright. It is even more important to the masses to keep them embraced of the activities of Owelle Rochas Okorocha, whom the people of Imo State all agreed in unison to leave his private business and come and look after their collective wealth for a given period of time, when they will so chose to replace him with another fellow.
Therefore, it is rather a duty, than a crime, for the Media to always inform Imo people about the condition of the custodian of their mandate, whether he is healthy or sick, sleeping or awake, simply because whatever happens to Okorocha must affect the life of the 5 million Imo citizens.
Knowing that his life is under scrutiny and of utmost importance to Imo people, it is therefore the responsibility of the fellow who such task has been given to conduct himself/ herself in a noble manner, as he/she is in the eyes of the storm.
So, when TRUMPETA Newspaper reported last week that Governor Okorocha escaped mob attack and was pelted with pure water by New market Traders, the Newspaper was only informing the public, and did not mean any harm or insult on Governor.
Therefore, it was shocking to receive a letter from Okorocha’s lawyer giving the Newspaper “24 Hours” to recant the story or face the consequences.
It the first place, I have not seen where a Newspaper is given “24 Hours” to reply a letter, even during the military Junta administration.
it goes to show the bizarre nature of Okorocha’s administration and those in it, which the entire world has been talking about.
Following the letter was an invitation from the Directorate of State Security DSS asking Trumpeta Publishers to appear before it. Such was shocking in a Democratic system of Governance. From the actions of the State’s Chief Executive, it shows how much disdain he has for Trumpeta Newspaper in particular, nay the Press and Media in Imo State and elsewhere.
And this was the same Okorocha who rode on the back of the Media to win his election in 2011, without spending a dime on them. This was same Okorocha, whom with other colleagues of mine, I fought for when he was facing persecution from the Udenwa regime, without even any solicitation, much more payment.
Now, when Okorocha a few months ago celebrated his earth-shaking stupendous birthday with twenty seven cakes, which Trumpeta carried on its front page, why didn’t the Governor invite DSS?
When his wife celebrated her birthday a few weeks ago, Trumpeta carried it in bold cover without a dime from the First Lady, did Okorocha ask his Lawyer to write the Publishers of TRUMPETA? What was the difference between the New Market story and that of his Birthday? May be one favoured him and other does not? Well, that is the Media, a balanced Report. As a Leader you must be ready to accept praises as well as the sticks. He who does not want the heat must stay away from the kitchen. As far as Okorocha remains the Governor of Imo State, Trumpeta as a Media House will continue to write about him and his activities with balance, objective and professional mindset.
Rather, it is left for the Governor and his Advisers to toe the populist line and remain in the good books of both the masses and the Media. The Journalists are trained to dig the dust. A “Badstroy” is a friend to the Editor. Therefore, the Media helps to checkmate Leaders, and in most cases turn them to be good men and women who leave legacies after their outings. That is why they say absolute power corrupts absolutely. Every Leader must be kept on watch so that he/she does not turn to Pharaoh.
In the case of Imo State, Okorocha does not help himself. I pity his Media Department.
For instance, in the history of Imo State, Okorocha is the only Governor who gives public holidays to mark a private occasion like a birthday making it a State affair. It lingers to close to a month with offices closed and State matters locked down, and you say the masses and the Press should not talk?
Here, a worker approaches a Bank with a cheque dully given by a Government Department and you are told that there is no money in the account.
Meaning the cheque bounced! And right there in the Bank is a sign telling you that issuing of Bounced cheque attracts two years jail term.
And you expect that worker not to shout. In Imo State, since 2011 Okorocha assumed office, there is no drop of water anywhere in the State. The Governor admitted this when I asked him the question some time ago. He promised that Chinese companies are on their way to put water problem in Imo in a past tense. Over one year after that encounter with Okorocha, no water in the State capital instead the former Water Board has been demolished.
After air, which is free, the next most important necessity to mankind is water. While Owerri has no drinking water, the Governor elected by the people is inviting Presidents of other countries with Imo scarce resources to come and unveil their statues in Imo, moulded with tax payers money. The same people who do not have drinking water!. And you say the masses should not shout, and the Press should remain mute?
Since the creation of Imo State, the State football team which debuted as Trojans, to Spartans, to Iwuanyanwu Nationale Club to Heartland Football Club had remained in Division one in the Nigeria league through all the Military Governors, to the last Civilian Governor. Just under Okorocha in six years, the club went on relegation. And you say Imo people should not talk and the Press should not write?
Who does not like good thing! Imo people like what Okorocha is doing in road expansions in the State capital. But there are rules guiding every action in Governance. Other Governors did similar things in their States, but they followed laid down rules which include compensation for destroyed cash crops and structures.
Now, the roads in Imo are ongoing, but the pains suffered by the people during the demolition exercise is over-shadowing whatever good that would be accorded the roads.
And again, in such situations to justify its actions, the Government ought to have finished these roads and make them solid. But truthfully, you can hardly point at any road started by the Okorocha administration since 6 years now that has been completed. So, you would not want the Media to comment? Just as it would when the Governor commissions any of the roads?
Today, the permanent site of Imo Government House Owerri have been partitioned with buildings spring up everywhere there.
And this the is patrimony of all Imo people. And you say they should not ask questions. The matter has nothing to do with Chief Okorocha as a person.
The issue is that Imo State is owned by the masses, the people who will by 2019 put another fellow on the seat. Therefore, Imo people have the right to inquire about their property, while also the Media helps keep the populace informed.
The Governor recently said he does not run a family Government. But his daughter’s Husband, Chief Uche Nwosu is the Chief of Staff, his inlaw, Prof Anwuka is the Minister on the slot of Imo State, his other inlaw, Chief Ololo was Transition Committee Chairman of Owerri North LGA, until he was handed APC ticket to run for Owerri Federal Constituency in 2015 and lost, the Governor’s younger sister, Ogechi Ololo is a Commissioner for Happiness, one of the Daughters is said to be a member of Board of a College of Education. If these stories are true, and nothing but the truth, so why hand me and my colleagues? Did we fabricate any falsehood? Why the threats to our lives?
It is not that the Governor is not entitled to appoint his relations with positions if they merit it. But you don’t abuse such privilege. Therefore, under this circumstance, you ask Imo people not to comment, and the Press shut up?
In the previous administrations, Imo government was the major patron of Imo Media, through advertorials and other incentives. But since Okorocha’s inception he prefers paying huge sums for life coverages to AIT or Channels, ignoring the home Media that is employing Imo Graduates, and helping in reducing unemployment in the State.
As far as a Governor is on the seat with the peoples mandate, he or she must be written about. He/she should not see it as being targeted. After 2019, Okorocha should watch how many Newspapers that would comment about his activities. Therefore, Governor Okorocha should ask his lawyers, security personnel and others to leave Trumpeta Newspaper and their publishers alone.
The Newspaper has never written about Okorocha’s private life, which is not our business. What concerns real Professional Media Houses is the actions and inactions of the Governor as it concerns the citizens.
For instance, I took tour of the market being constructed at Egbeda by the Okorocha’s administration and I beheld a magnificent structure with Banks, Security Posts, Roads etc in place. I now asked myself, why did not the Governor allow the completion of this beautiful gigantic structure so that Eke Ukwu Market Traders could move over there quietly, than the chaos and mayhem that trailed the forceful evacuation of the traders at Eke Ukwu which led to loss of lives?
Again, which of the Governor’s Adviser asked him to demolish New Market, Owerri at this Christmas period, when traders make the last sales for the year?
Why would the phase- out of Keke take place this yuletide period when there are influx, and movement of commuters from one destination to the other?
The pain these recent Government policies unleashed on Imo people is unbelievable.
Yet the Government seems not to be aware of this home truth. Does the Okorocha administration have a mechanism to gauge the impulse of the masses? That should have been the duty of Ministry of Information.
Therefore, TRUMPETA does not hate Okorocha. It is only reporting news. Instead it is left for the Government to mend its ways, if it feels that what is being reported is not positive to its image.
Trumpeta is only helping Okorocha with the facts on ground, since those around the Governor are carried away with pecks of office, than telling their principal the home truth. I have been in Government before, and know how this work. Okorocha will one day know who are his real friends among the plethora of the Hangers-on now parroting his name.
Naturally, Okorocha should be winding up by now and making friends than enemies because from January his tenure would be cruising to its final destination.
Therefore, if he must produce a successor, it must be done in conjunction with all the sectors of Imo State, including the Media.
And when Okorocha leaves in May 29, 2019, both Imo people, and the Media, whatever is left of it and those still alive to continue the job, will be around to welcome another Governor, as the circle continues. Happy Christmas.
